Dispenser for individual folded sheets



May 26, 9 v. c. JONES ETAL 3, 3 ,503

DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS Filed May 17, 1962 4 sheets sheet l 55- INVENTORS WILLIAM S. HUSS, VINCENT CJ'QNES AND ARCHIE 5. KRUEGER ATTQRNEYS y 1964 v. c. JONES ETAL DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1962 INVENTORS WILLIAM S. HU S, WNCENTCJONES AND (HE BY z'g ATTokNEYs May 26, 1 v. c. JONES ETAL DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORJ WILLIAM S. HUSS, VINCENT C. JONES ARCHIE Filed May 17, 1962 AND 5. R U EG ER B fil/fiy 7 4 74 F ATTORNEYS 25, 1954 v. c. JONES ETAL 3,134,503

DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS Filed May 17, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS WlLLlAPl S.HUSS V\ NCENT CJONES,

AND AR HIE SKRU GER W W W- AT ORNEYS United States Patent 3,134,503 DISIPENSER FUR TNDIVEUAL FGLDED SHEETS Vincent 3. Jones and William S. Iiuss, Appleton, and Archie S. Krueger, Green Bay, Wis, assignors to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Sersey Filed May 17, 1962, Ser. No. 196,043 11 Claims. (Cl. 2Zfi47) This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 60,835, filed October 6, 1960, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a dispenser for a stack of folded paper sheets such as paper towels or napkins. The paper sheets are folded so as to provide a grasping tab portion in the dispenser for removing a single folded sheet from the dispenser while the remainder of a stack of folded sheets is retained in the dispenser.

Further details and advantages of the dispenser construction will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a folded paper towel provided with a folded over grasping tab on each face thereof,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the bottom of the dispenser,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 showing folded paper towels positioned over the bottom opening in the dispenser prior to removal therethrough,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 6-5 of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the retaining slide moved to the left so as to permit the tab portion of the lowermost folded paper towel to extend through the bottom opening of the dispenser,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the grasping tab of the lowermost folded paper towel extending through the bottom opening of the dispenser,

FIGURE 9 is an exploded perspective view of the elements constituting the bottom support and dispensing means for a stack of folded paper towels,

FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of the dispenser in open position, and

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the opened dispenser.

Referring to the drawings, the dispenser which may be made of suitable material such as metal, molded plastic or the like, consists of a receptacle portion, indicated generally by numeral 10, and a cover portion, indicated generally by numeral 11, as shown in FIGURES l and 11. Cover portion 11 is hinged on pins 4 at the lower end of the receptacle portion 10. Cover portion 11 may be provided with a lock 49 for locking the same in closed position. The receptacle portion ill is adapted to retain therein a stack of individual folded paper sheets A, shown in FIGURE 2, each of which is provided preferably with a triangular folded grasping tab portion 1 on each face of the folded sheet. The folded sheets A may be adapted to be used as towels or napkins, and are of suitable dimensions so as to be stacked and retained in the receptacle portion 18 which has a cross-sectional contour, as shown in FIGURE 5, complemental with the peripheral contour of the folded sheets A.

The receptacle portion ill comprises a rear wall 8 having integral flange portions 27 which extend within the receptacle portion as shown in FIGURE 4, at an angle to the rear wall. The flange portions 27 also extend vertically with the receptacle portion and serve to retain and guide the rear edges of the folded stacked sheets A, as

"ice

shown in FIGURE 5. A pair of spaced guide members 5 also extend vertically along the rear wall 8, as shown in FIGURE 5, which serve to contact and guide the rear edges of the stacked folded sheets A. The receptacle portion 10 is formed with side walls 22 which are integral with vertical panel members 9 of the rear wall 8, as shown in FIGURE 4. The rear wall 8 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots 12 and 14, as shown in FIGURE 10, through which suitable screws or retaining means may be inserted for securing the dispenser to a wall or other supporting surface. The receptacle portion 19 is also provided with a top wall 21 and bottom wall 7, as shown in FIGURE 11. The bottom wall 7 is provided with a straight free flanged smooth edge 7a as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, which forms one boundary of the dispensing opening in the bottom of the dispenser. The other complemental boundary 37 of the dispenser opening, as shown m FIGURE 3, is provided by the free flanged smooth edge 35a of plate 35 to be described later.

The side walls 22 of the receptacle portion are provided with inwardly offset portions 23, as shown in FIGURES 5, 7 and 11, which are adapted to support and snugly mate with the free vertical edges of the side flanges 43 of the hinged cover 11, as shown in FIGURE 4.

The cover 11 comprises a front wall 41, angularly positioned integral side panels 42, side flanges 43 and top flange 44. The front wall 41 of the hinged cover is provided with an elongated opening 2, as shown in FIGURE 1, through which the height of the stack of folded sheets A within the dispenser may be observed. The front wall 41 of the hinged cover may also be provided with suitable ornamental embossments 3, as shown, in FIGURE 1. The free edge of the top flange 44 of the cover 11 is adapted to be supported on the free edge of the top wall 21 of the receptacle portion 10 in closed position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The receptacle portion ll? is provided at its front bottom portion with a composite supporting housing shown in FIGURES l0 and 11 for supporting a stack of folded sheets A as well as retaining and positioning a slidable member 80 shown in FIGURE 9. The composite housing is formed of plate 35, and mounting members 71, 72 and 73 provided with channels shown in perspective disassembled condition in FIGURE 9. Plate 35 and mounting members 71 and 72 are assembled and retained in contacting relation by means of rivets which pass through holes 74- in member 71, holes 75 in member 72 and through corresponding holes 76 and 77 in plate 35. Simi larly, slotted members 72 and 73 are attached to flange 39 by rivets through holes 78 and 79 in members 72 and 73 and holes 68 and 69, respectively, in the flange. \Vhen assembled all of the mounting members rest at least in part on the upper surface of plate 35. Sectional views FIGURES 4, 6 and 8 show the particular configuration of the composite housing.

The plate 35 is recessed at 351) to receive deflection member 34 which has an upper surface in coplanar relationship with the upper surface plate 35 and which is attached thereto by rivets 34a. The interior end 341) of deflection member 34 is inclined upwardly for a function to be described hereinafter. The plate 35 has an upwardly extending flange 30, which is provided with a curvilinear member 33, extending inwardly of the receptacle portion 10, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, and adapted to provide partial support for the forward edge portion of a stack of folded sheets A. Upwardly extending side flanges 31 and 32 serve to guide the side edges of the folded sheets supported in the ispenser. with a curvilinear cut-out flanged portion 35a shown in FIGURE 9 which provides one edge of the dispensing opening.

Mounting members 71, 72 and 73 have channels ad- Plate 35 is provided l and 73a, respectively, in FIGURE 9.

3 j cent the edges thereof identified as 71a, 72a, 72b, The channels are positoned in the composite housing at approximately equal distances above the plate 35 to lie in what is essentially a common plane. Slidable member 8% which comprises a plow portion 81 and a ll-shaped portion 82 ispositioned above plate 35 with the edges of the member engaged to slide in the channeled members (see FIGURES G and 8). Edges 81a, slb'and 82a and 5325 slide in channels 72a, 72b, 73a and 71a, respectively. Slidable member 89 is provided with a handle hi extending'therefrom and connected thereto by a terminal portion 93a which is deformed around plow portion 31 of theslidable member 84 through opening 810. The handle a l! is inserted through portion 36:: of slot 36 located in plate 35. When the dispenser is operated the alternating ear portions 32c and 84a to form a hinge as shown in FIGURES 6, 8 and 9. The upperrsurface of hinged member 84 adjacent edge 35:: is elevated toaid inthe dispensing action. Since the'pressure contact of the lowermost folded sheet is only on the raised portion of the hinged member and not on the entire upper surface, binding of the folded sheets during dispensing is eliminated. The lower surface of the hinged member interior of the edge adjacent plow portion 81 is partially hollowed out to accommodate the inclined end 3412 of deflection member 34 and to allow the member to lie in substantially the same plane as the U-shaped. portion 82. Hinged member 84 has a lower ridge element 84b shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 which rides on the underlying deflection member 34 as the slidable member 89 is displaced from its resting position when dispensing a folded sheet. Once displaced from the resting position, the slidable member 89 is urged to return by a spring 86 which is connected on one end by a rivet 87' located in U-shaped portion 82 and on the other end to a hook member 33 formed in the plate 35. a

The composite assembly of the housing and slidable member shown in FIGURE 9 is fixedly attached by lugs 39 which are integral with side flanges 31 and 32 to the offset portions 23 of the side walls 22 of the receptacle portion by screws or rivets 3% to assume the position shown in FIGURE 11. The bottom flange portions 41a and 42a integral respectively with front wall 4 and side panels 42 of the hinged cover, are

adapted to underlie plate 35 in contacting relationship when the dispenser is closed, as shown in FIGURE 3.

In using the dispenser, the cover 11 is swung outwardly, as shown in FIGURES and 11, to expose the interior of the receptacle. portion 10. A stack of folded paper sheets A is then positioned within the receptacle portion. The front edges of the lowermost 'folded sheet A 'will be contacted by the curvilinear portion 33. On account of the weight of the stack of folded sheets, however, the lower few folded sheets A will drop below the member 38 and assume the position shown in FIGURE 6. However, the edge of member 38 will provide a partial support for the stack, there position. When it is desired to remove a folded paper action of gravity and the natural resilience of the sheet 7 through the opening in the bottom of the dispenser formed by the edge 7a of the bottom wall 7 of the receptacle portion and spaced curvilinear edge 35a of plate 35. This action may be insured by both the lifting action of hinged member 84 as it rides on deflection member 34 as shown in FIGURE 8 during the movement of slide member and by the plowing action of edge 81d of plow portion 81 as this member returns under spring action to the original right hand position. As the slide member 80 is moved toward the left position the support Sid for the grasping tab 1 is withdrawn. Ordinarily the tab will drop down, as shown in FIGURE 8, but occasionally the tab may momentarily cling to the overlying main portion of the sheet. In order to completely obviate the clinging action, the upward lifting action of hinged member. 84

raises the main portion of the sheet away from the tab. As the slide member 80 is moved to the left the lower ridge element 84b of hinged member 84 travels with its bottom surface in contact with the underlying deflection member 34 as shown in FIGURE 8. When the upwardly inclined free end 34b of the deflection member 34, adjacent the curvilinear edge 35a, is reached, the hinged member 84 pivots in an arc about the pin 35connecting it to the slide member 80. As the hinged member 84 elevates, it raises the main portion of the contacting sheet as well as the upper stack of sheets as shown in FIGURE 8. Tab 1 is then free to drop down through the dispensing opening in position for' The plowing action of the edge 81dready grasping. of plow portion 81, between the tab 1 and the main portion will then occur and the edge 81d will not pass,

ber 80 to its right hand normal position'by action of spring 86, member '89 will block or restrain the tab 1 of the next succeeding folded sheet A from dropping through the bottom openin in the dispenser because the edge 81d of plow portion 81 will partially obstruct the dispensing opening, as shown in FIGURE 3. Hinged member 84 will depress with the lower ridge element 84b again following the contour of the deflection member 34. When slidable member 80 'is returned to its rest position hinged member 84 returns to a substantially coplanar relationship with U-shaped portion 82 as shown in FIGURE6. The downwardly extending tab 1 can then be grasped andthe folded sheet A is thus completely removed from the dispenser. When it is desired to remove another folded sheet A the operation previously described is repeated. Handle 99 is again moved to its extreme left position, thereby permitting tab 1 of the lowermost folded sheet A to extend through the bottom opening in the dispenser for grasping and removal.

It will be obvious that of the four possible positions in which sheets A could be placed in the dispenser, only two positions in which the lower of tabs 1 extends forwardly in the dispenser will permit the described dis- The present dispenser construction protects the folded 7 paper sheets against dust and contamination. 'Only one sheet at a time can be removed. Furthermore, no tab portion of the folded sheet protrudes from the dispenser except when the handle is moved. The dispenser is simple in construction. It is easily loaded when the sheets are exhausted. There are no interior parts which would snag or tear the folded sheets as they are being removed one at a time from the dispenser.

We claim:

1. A dispenser for individual folded sheets having at least one grasping tab comprising a receptacle portion adapted to retain a stack of individual folded sheets therein and a cover portion for closing said receptacle portion, a dispensing opening in the bottom of said dispenser for manually withdrawing the lowermost individual folded sheet of said stack therethrough by grasping a tab extending through said dispensing opening, a movable member partially obstructing said dispensing opening, said movable member being normally positioned to retain the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle portion, elevating means operative with the displacement of said movable member for raising the main body portion of the lowermost folded sheet away from the grasping tab of said sheet, and means to displace said movable member laterally to permit said grasping tab to fall through and extend through said dispensing opening to permit grasping of the grasping tab and removal of said lowermost folded sheet through said dispensing opening and from the dispenser.

2. A dispenser for individual folded sheets having grasping tabs comprising a receptacle portion adapted to retain a stack of individual folded sheets therein and a hinged cover portion for closing said receptacle portion, a dispensing opening in the bottom of said dispenser for withdrawing the lowermost individual folded sheet of said stack therethrough, a movable member provided with a retaining portion, normally positioned to retain the presented grasping tab of the said lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle portion and partially obstructing said dispenser opening, a hinged member hinged to said movable member and movable laterally therewith, means positioned in the path of travel of said movable member to elevate said hinged member during the motion of said movable member, and means to move said movable member laterally to permit said grasping tab to fall through said opening to permit grasping of the grasping tab and removal of said lowermost folded sheet through said dispensing opening from the dispenser.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 for individual folded sheets having grasping tabs, wherein the rear wall of the receptacle portion is provided with spaced flanges extending angularly within the receptacle portion and extending for substantially the full length of the receptacle portion for guiding a stack of individual folded sheets retained in said receptacle portion.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 for individual folded sheets having grasping tabs wherein the receptacle portion comprises rear, side, top and bottom walls, said bottom wall being provided with a linear free smooth edge, a supporting housing positioned adjacent the dispensing opening at the bottom of the dispenser, said housing being adapted to support the lowermost folded sheet of the stack of folded sheets retained in the receptacle portion, said housing being provided with a curvilinear free smooth edge portion spaced from the linear free edge of the bottom wall of the receptacle portion to provide said dispensing opening in the bottom of the dispenser.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 for individual folded sheets having grasping tabs, wherein the movable member comprises a U-shaped portion and a plow portion, said plow portion being normally positioned to partially obstruct said dispensing opening and to retain the grasping tab of the said lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle portion, said elevating means comprising a member hingedly connected to one of and lying between the legs of said U-shaped portion.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 2 for individual folded sheets having grasping tabs, wherein the movable member comprises a U-shaped portion and a plow portion, the legs of said -U-shaped portion being substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of said opening and having the ends of said legs adjacent said plow portion, said plow portion being normally positioned to partially obstruct said dispensing opening and to retain the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle portion, said hinged member lying between the legs of said U-shaped portion.

7. A dispenser for a stack of individual folded sheets having at least one grasping tab including a receptacle portion comprising rear, side, top and bottom walls, a dispensing opening in the bottom of said dispenser for withdrawing the lowermost individual folded sheet of said stack therethrough, a supporting housing positioned adjacent the opening at the bottom of the dispenser, said hous ing being adapted to support the lowermost folded sheet of the stack of folded sheets retained in the receptacle portion, a slidable member mounted in said housing, said slidable member being adapted to support the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet in the dispenser, a hinged member normally positioned within the confines of and hinged to said slidable member, means positioned adjacent said slidable member to elevate said hinged member during movement of said slidable member, handle means to move said slidable member to permit said grasping tab to fall by gravity through the opening in the dispenser in position for manual grasping and withdrawal from the dispenser.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7 for individual folded sheets having at least one grasping tab, wherein said slidable member comprises a U-shaped portion and a plow portion, the legs of said U-shaped portion being substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of said opening and having the ends of said legs adjacent said plow portion, said plow portion being normally positioned to partially obstruct said dispensing opening and to retain the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle portion, said hinged member lying between the legs of said U-shaped portion.

9. A dispenser for individual folder sheets having at least one grasping tab comprising a receptacle portion adapted to retain a stack of individual folded sheets therein and a hinged cover portion for closing said receptacle portion, a dispensing opening in the bottom of the dispenser for withdrawing the lowermost individual folded sheet of said stack therethrough, said receptacle portion com rising rear, side, top and bottom walls, said bottom wall having a linear free edge, a supporting housing positioned adjacent the opening at the bottom of the dispenser, said housing being adapted to support the lowermost folded sheet of the stack of folded sheets retained in the receptacle portion, said housing being provided with a curvilinear free edge portion spaced from said linear free edge of the bottom wall of the receptacle portion to provide said opening in the bottom of the dispenser, a horizontally slidable member mounted in said housing and normally movable from an initial position where one side of said opening is obstructed along a path essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said opening to a position partially obstructing the other side of said opening, said slidable member being adapted to support the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet in the dispenser, a hinged member hinged to said slidable member and normally resting within the confines of said slidable member, a deflection member mounted in the bottom member of said housing underneath and in contact with said hinged member, said deflection member having a raised portion lying in the path of travel of said hinged member and being adapted to elevate said hinged member as the slidable member is moved from its initial position, and handle means to move said slidable member to permit said grasping tab to fall by gravity through the opening 'in the dispenser in position for manual grasping and with 'drawal from the dispenser.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9 for individual folded sheets having at least one grasping tab,.wherein said slidable member comprises a U-shaped portion and a plow portion, the legs of said U-shaped portion being substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of I adapted to retain a stack of individual folded sheets therein and a hinged cover portion for closing said receptacle portion, a dispensing opening in th'ebottom of the dispenser for Withdrawing the lowermost individual folded sheet of said stack therethrough, said receptacle portion comprising rear, side, top and bottom walls, said bottom wall having a linear free edge, a supporting housing positioned adjacent the opening at the bot-tom of the dispenser, said housing being adapted to supportthe lowermost folded sheet of the stack of folded sheets retained in the receptacle portion, said housing being provided with a curvilinear free edge portion spaced from said linear free edge of the bottom wall of the receptacle portion to provide said opening in the bottom of the dispenser, a horizontally slidable member comprising a U-shaped portion and a plow portion, the legs of said U'-shaped portion being substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of said opening and having the ends of said legs adjacent said plow portion, said plow portion. being normally positioned to partially obstruct one side of said dispensing opening and to retain the grasping tab of the lowermost folded sheet within said receptacle' portion, said slidable member being mounted in said housing and normally movable along a path essentially parallel to the longitudinal direction of said opening to a position wherein the U-shaped portion partially obstructs the other side of said opening, a hinged member hinged to one of the legs of and-lying between the legs of said U-shaped portion, a deflection member having an upwardly inclined end portion adjacent said curvilinear edge lying in the path of travel of said hinged member and being adapted to elevate said hinged member as the slidable member is moved from its normal position, and handle means to move said slidable member to permit said grasping tab to fall by gravity through the-opening in the dispenser in position for manual grasping and withdrawal from the dispenser.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,164,047 Winter Dec. 14, 1915 1,684,878 Morris Sept. 18, 1928 2,116,792 Jacobsen May 10, 1938 1 2,207,475 Berger July 9,1940 2,277,815 Broeren et al Mar. 31, 1942 

1. A DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS HAVING AT LEAST ONE GRASPING TAB COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE PORTION ADAPTED TO RETAIN A STACK OF INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEETS THEREIN AND A COVER PORTION FOR CLOSING SAID RECEPTACLE PORTION, A DISPENSING OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID DISPENSER FOR MANUALLY WITHDRAWING THE LOWERMOST INDIVIDUAL FOLDED SHEET OF SAID STACK THERETHROUGH BY GRASPING A TAB EXTENDING THROUGH SAID DISPENSING OPENING, A MOVABLE MEMBER PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTING SAID DISPENSING OPENING, SAID MOVABLE MEMBER BEING NORMALLY POSITIONED TO RETAIN THE GRASPING TAB OF THE LOWERMOST FOLDED SHEET WITHIN SAID 